PRETORIA BAR RAIDED AGAIN
Police have raided a gay nude bar for the third time in two months – leading to claims of harassment.
The Citizen newspaper reported yesterday that Camp David, a gay nude bar in Brooklyn Pretoria, was raided by the police’s legal services and intervention unit together with a dog unit on the weekend.
Fourteen men – including the owner – were said to be arrested for sexual misconduct and public indecency when police found them naked in the venue. Pornographic material and “powder and pills” were also confiscated.
The authorities claim that they raided Camp David to check for contraventions of its liquor license, but concern has been raised that the police may be targeting the bar because it is a gay venue.
Camp David was raided twice in October by police who confiscated numerous adult DVDs. The police said that they would assess whether the DVDs contained child pornography.
Danie, one of the club’s owners angrily claims that the bar is being harassed by the authorities. “We believe that they are targeting us. They still haven’t found anything after these raids. They came with 80 policeman and 30 cars – when they complain they don’t have enough cars – to harass a few “moffies” instead of tackling real crime”, he said. He aims to file papers against the police in court on Monday challenging the basis of the search warrant.
He questioned the charges of public indecency when the venue is a member’s only private bar. “They were behind closed doors – not in public. We are not a danger to the public.” The 14 men who appeared in court on Tuesday were not asked to plead – and were told to appear in court on 18 January.
Police spokesperson, Superintendent Morne Van Wyk denied that the police were targeting the club or the gay community. He said that police had received numerous complaints about the bar and were compelled to act. “We don’t police groups. We police crime. If someone oversteps the boundaries we police that, not because of who they are.”
He added that they were awaiting forensic tests on suspected drugs found at the club. Van Wyk said that the assessment of the DVDs from the earlier raid was “ongoing”.
Meanwhile, the Citizen came in for criticism for its reporting on the issue this week thanks to its front page headline, “Gays caught with their pants down”.
Dawie Nel, Director of OUT, said that, “We find it problematic and question their choice of words – noting that numerous ‘straight’ clubs have been raided of late but we have not seen similar headlines with ‘straight’ substituted for ‘gay’.”
Gays for Equitable Media (GEM) has said it will write a letter to the editor of The Citizen on the matter.
What bullshit is this!!!. My goodness what utter bullshit is this – i cannot believe this!!! And here I thought we were living in an equality fazed country!!!
As far as I know this is a pvt venue and therefore what happens inside stays inside unless this was caused again by a person who didnt get laid and also was turned down!!! why dont the South African Police Service go and catch real criminals which escape our wonderful jducical system!!
Ppl shoudnt visiti these kind of venues if they r offended by it!!!
well well. This type of thing should be happening in the lowveld. You guys in the city shuold be thankfull. if you think its hard up there come to whiteriver or nelspruit.
when were we realy equal to straight people. for me its all a joke the whole equality thing. wake up and start standing together rather than trying to brake up relationships or other clups
well well. This type of thing should be happening in the lowveld. You guys in the city shuold be thankfull. if you think its hard up there come to whiteriver or nelspruit.
when were we realy equal to straight people. for me its all a joke the whole equality thing. wake up and start standing together rather than trying to brake up relationships or other clups
Not Again. It realy seems that crime in RSA does not exists if the police can waste time, manpower, and cars all the things they complain not to have enough of for the harassment of a few gay men minding thier own buiseness. while hijakkers, muderers. thiefs rome our streets. ” Ag sies man SAP ” is all i can say. I urge everyone to take action and write to every magazine and newspaper about this. No wander you only get help 3 days later when you try call 10111
Thank you
Gerard
Same old same old…. This is shocking as it seems as the SAP are victimising the gay community.
During a car search late at night a few weeks ago, the police found my prescribed medicines and a “suspicious substance” in my car. They “arrested” me for being in possession of “drugs”. At the station I was also charged for dealing – as I had my salary in my wallet which I withdrew earlier that day.
In my car I also had some gay porn, sex toys and poppers – which was purchased that evening. The officers thorougly enjoyed harrassing me AND embarresing me in front of my mom who came to took my car home.
One of the officers leaked the story to the press who of course added tails to it and therefor destroyed my career…
What about the fact that after the police searched my car, most electronic accessories disappeared?
And this is the people we must trust to protect and help us, but actualy cause family disruptions and destroy lives and careers!
Maybe there should be a new task force or arganisation to shadow the SAP’s movements and stop their victimisation and harasment.
I really feel sorry for the 14 guys who must appear in court in January as they will be thrown with stones and victimised again – as if the embarrasment is not big enough.
What can we do to stop this?
CAMP DAVID RAID. I would like to thank mambo on line and all the gays showing their support on this matter. Rest assured that I am not going to tolerate this harassment by the SAP and bad publicity given to gays by the media.(as a result of remarks from the SAP creating the impression that gays are pedophiles and drug addicts) The officers who made remarks such as: “jy is seker ‘n moffie omdat jou pa jou ‘n blowjob gegee het toe jy klein was” and “dit is nie mense hierbinne nie, dit is moffies” will be taken to court. After the court hearing in the supreme court on Monday 27 November against the authorities I will launch a massive action against all parties involved. To Wayne, electronic equipment also disappeared during the raid from behind our counter during the raid. Watch this space for details. DANIE HAMMAN, CAMP DAVID
DANIE. DANIE…..
YOU TAKE THEM ON….SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY FORM OF SUPPORT WITH REGARD THIS MATTER YOU CAN SURELY COUNT ON ME……TAKE THEM DOWN AS FAR AS POSSIBLE……I THINK ITS TIME WE RECORD THESE EVENTS AND HATE CRIMES AND ALSO MAKE USE OF THE PRESS……..
Lets not leave it at this……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. My fellow Gay People…..
This is becoming a matter of concern and requires our urgent attention……….!!!!!!!!
The SAP is OUT to get us….. Why?
How about this for a Head Line against the SAPS…..
Gay Person beaten to death by STRAIGHTS….POLICE CAME UP FOR THE STRAIGHTS BY ” OH SO SORRY WE LOST THE RECORD OF THAT INCIDENT BUT YOU CAN CONSIDER THAT HE WAS HIT BY A MOTOR VEHICLE”…… which meant I had grounds to justify the matter……
People I think we should act and act fast with full force……….
It is being noted that Gays and Lesbians are most likely to be discriminated more than any other group/culture within South Africa…….
This CANNOT go on……….LETS ACT AS IM ONE OF MANY GAYS IN SOUTH AFRICA BEING SOOOO SCARED OF LEAVING MY PLACE OF RESIDENCE…..
Louis
CAMP DAVID. OK IT HAPPENED , SO NOW STAND TOGETHER AND STOP IT FOR HAPPENING AGAIN AND PLEASE
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE 14 GUYS IN COURT OK OK OK STAND TOGETHER WIN TOGETHER AND SUPPORT CAMP DAVID AGAIN AND AGAIN DON’T LET A GOOD GAY PLACE CLOSE DOWN BECAUSE THEN THEY HAVE WON REMEMBER CAMP DAVID AND ALL THAT IT GAY HAVE TO RULE LOVE ALWAYS SHENAAZE XXX XXX
What’s the fuss about?. Why’s everyone in uproar over this? It is not that gays are singled out or targeted, rather that public sex and nudity is illegal!
I support the police on this, as a gay guy with decent values, the sleaze should be singled out, it gives the rest of us such a bad name.
I await your forthcoming reply.
Somebody missed the pot!. For Albert…
I take it that you have the natural INABILITY to read between the lines…
You never hear of places like Teazers and Teazhers et al being raided this way…
Another simple newspaper headline comes to mind from a few years ago: Rat found dead in gay brothel… And then in that sentence that it was found OUTSIDE by the garbage.
Suppose you hang out in more public places playing circles in a bush, or polish the public toilet floor.
Wake up!
Camp David – Albert’s comment. Hi Albert, everybody do have the right to his own believes, but you are surely out of line with your comments.
From your message it can be deducted that you have NEVER visited CD, since you will not like to be seen in the company of THOSE “sleaze” without “decent values”.
How on earth can you justify your comments based on newspaper reports alone. Go there some day and investigate the scene. I’ve been there about three times, and not ONCE did I find the members to misbehave themselves. To the contrary, everybody was there just for a good time.
Please guys, do not kick somebody lying on the ground, especially not if it is one of your own clan. (Clan, meaning gay community)
Gold for Julius. Well stated Julius. Apologies for my outburst towards his GOODNESS Albert, but my blood boils reading and hearing comments like that!
Nobody is judging him for going onto gaydar while his wife is the hair salon OR extra long urination sessions on a shopping day OR those “quick” late nite drives OR etc… Getting my drift?
Just let everybody BE! It all comes down to respect for one another!
This raid was illegal and happened more than 10 years ago (2006) The police apologized for their actions in order to prevent intended legal court action and damages claims by the owners of Camp David.
Since then the police in fact work very closely with Camp David and a very good relationship exists between the parties. Both the police and Camp David work together to combat drug abuse etc .